ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT
This article shows how electronic road pricing (ERP) would lead to a more rational use of private and public transport, and influence the future development of British cities and towns. The principal short- to medium-term implications of ERP are: (1) a change in attitudes to transport policy and public transport; (2) changes in the relevant transport market; (3) improved operating conditions for buses; (4) a possible new source of funds for local transport. ERP could also have significant effects on patterns of land use and economic and social activity. As each of the many options for implementing ERP would have different implications for public transport, care must be taken in assessing ERP's likely effects. In urban areas, any proposal to introduce ERP on a significant scale would almost certainly have to be accompanied by a commitment to improve public transport and/or introduce environmental improvements. If effective, ERP will deter marginal road users from using roads where they would otherwise have to pay, and could suppress some journeys, reroute others, and increase demand for public transport. Buses and taxis can expect substantial benefits from ERP. Research is needed on how ERP receipts should be spent, but they should not be classed as taxes in their own right.
Institute of Economic Affairs
2 Lord North Street, Westminster
London SW1, England
BAYLISS, D
Pagination: p. 29-33
Publisher: Institute of Economic Affairs
TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automatic control; Automation; Buses; Financing; Information processing; Land use; Policy; Public transit; Road pricing; Telecommunications; Transportation modes
Uncontrolled Terms: Selection
ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 3882: Automatic; 1272: Bus; 8655: Data processing; 244: Financing; 356: Land use; 173: Policy; 744: Public transport; 240: Road pricing; 9072: Selection; 9117: Telecommunication; 1145: Transport mode
Subject Areas: Policy; Public Transportation;
Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
Files: ITRD